Keates Praise For 'Ambitious' Andy Cook

11:21 amThursday, 7 June 2018

Walsall manager Dean Keates has spoken to the local press and praised new recruit Andy Cook, who will link up with the Saddlers when his Tranmere deal expires despite receiving better paying offers from several other clubs.

The 27-year-old striker, who was the National League top-scorer last season after bagging twenty-eight goals in forty-five first-team appearances, has agreed a two-year deal at Banks's Stadium, played a major part in the Rovers side which achieved promotion back to the English Football League after defeating Boreham Wood in the Play-Off Final.

Speaking via the Express & Star, Dean said; "He got offered more money to go elsewhere and stay in the National League Premier. But he is eager to get his shot in the league and I think that speaks volumes about his character. As soon as we had secured our League One status it was a deal I was desperate to get over the line. I think he can be a big player for us."

Dean then went on to praise the striker as just what the Saddlers need as he will cause defenders problems, something the club was lacking during the 2017/18 campaign.

Keates continued; "He isn’t the kind of striker who is going to run the channels and he is not always going to be easy on the eye. But I like him because he is a handful and he does the ugly side of the game well. He’s savvy and we didn’t have enough of that in the team last season. On top of all that, he scores goals."